Method for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits and vehicle theft

ABSTRACT

This device is a type of lance that is attached to the underneath of a police vehicle. It consists of a hydraulic pump that extends and retracts a long sharp lance from the front of the police car that will deflate the tires of vehicles that the police car is pursuing in a chase.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method having the purpose of disabling the progress of a vehicle

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Those of us who have seen movies such as “Sparticus” and “Greese” have seen spikes on side of wheels try to disable the wheel or tire of another car. It does not seem practical to put spikes on the wheels of police cars because it would be difficult for the police man to position the car just right for the wheels to shred and deflate the wheels of the vehicle it is pursuing. In this day of technology that we live in it is possible to create a high tech device such as this to help police men deflate the tires of the vehicle they are chasing.

The police car joust will quickly end the high speed pursuit quickly and safely protecting the lives of the police, innocent victims and even the live of the perpetrator that is being chased. It will also prevent damage to other vehicles on the road and property. The idea is quite simple using a long sharp instrument that protrudes from a protective sleeve by means of hydraulics or an electric motor. After its use is done it simply retracts the same way.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The police car lance is basically a hydraulic machine attached underneath a police car facing front wards.

The police car supplies the power to the hydraulic oil pump.

The police car lance hydraulic machine has a javelin attached to the piston inside a hydraulic cylinder.

The hydraulic oil pump creates a high pressure stream of oil from an oil tank which pushes against the piston and extends the javelin or lance out of the hydraulic cylinder.

When a valve is activated it allows the high pressure oil to extend and retract the lance in and out of the hydraulic cylinder.

The javelin or lance may have sharp spikes welded at the tip in different angles to help shred the intended tire.

The police car javelin can be placed on the right side, left side or the middle of the police vehicle.

The front bumper of the police car can add stability and support to the javelin.

The utility patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,397 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,445 issued to Soleau and Jones respectively, disclose a tire deflator including a spike secured to a support mechanism such that upon contact with a tire of a moving vehicle the spike penetrates the tire causing rapid air depletion. However, Soleau and Jones lack a means for positioning the apparatus on either side of the tire. Additionally, Soleau and Jones require the user to position the chocks underneath the vehicle wheel by hand, causing law enforcement officers to be vulnerable to injury if the vehicle moves. Therefore, an apparatus is needed that is easily positioned on a vehicle tire without exposing a user's body to possible harm.

The Soleau and Jones patents also fail to include a mechanism for protecting users from the disclosed spikes during placement and while the apparatuses are not in use. Therefore, an apparatus is needed that protects individuals from injury caused by inadvertent contact with deflating spikes.

The utility patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,981 issued to DeLuca et al. discloses an anti-theft vehicle wheel lock wherein a chock is positioned against a vehicle tire coupled with a bar on the opposing side securing the chock in place. Furthermore, a lock prevents movement of the chock and opposing bar, and a handle extends upward facilitating placement of the device. However, DeLuca et al. only is effective when locked into place, which takes time, and has no effect to prevent a high speed chase such as deflating vehicle tires. Therefore, an apparatus is needed that is easily placed and may be used in an unlocked position in order to prevent a vehicle from achieving high speeds.

For these reasons, in order to prevent high-speed pursuits, a method for utilizing a deflating apparatus is that is easily placed, without exposing a user's body to harm is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus of the present invention, a method for utilizing an apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits and vehicle theft, includes spikes, or other means for deflating a vehicle tire known in the art, disposed on opposing blocks or chocks, further secured to adjustable supports. A vertical user engageable member is secured to the support facilitating placement around a vehicle tire. The instant method is applicable to all types of vehicles, including but not limited to automobiles, motorcycles and airplanes.

The apparatus has two positions, stored and deployed. While the apparatus is in the stored position, the supports are folded upward toward the vertical user engageable member. The spikes are pointed downwards or horizontally towards the opposing block causing the blocks to cover the spikes and protect individuals from unintentional contact and resulting injury. In order to deploy the device, the supports are propelled downward by a spring force, or other deploying mechanism known in the art, when activated by a user.

Once deployed, the apparatus is locked into position. A user places the apparatus around a vehicle tire using the vertical user engageable member allowing placement without exposing a user's body to harm or the need for locking the apparatus around the tire. The blocks are positioned along side the outside front and back surfaces of the vehicle tire. The spikes and opposing blocks are positioned so to compress against the lower front and lower back surfaces of a vehicle tire. Foam or cushioning may be placed over the spikes in order to further protect users from exposed spikes. Due to the durability of a vehicle tire, the spikes will not penetrate causing deflation unless a strong force is applied on the spikes, such as vehicle propelled movement.

Thus, if the vehicle is moved in either direction, the spikes, or other deflating means, puncture the tire, thus releasing the air in the tire well before the vehicle gains any significant forward or reverse motion while at the same time not rendering the vehicle out-of-control from the operator. Thus, escape at high speeds is prevented. The spikes are capable of piercing any sized vehicle tire; regardless of the speed or direction the vehicle attempts to flee.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, claims, and accompanying drawings. Therefore, the form of the invention, as set out above, should be considered illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims. 

1. A method for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits comprising: extending an apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits by utilizing a deploying mechanism prior to positioning the apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits, placing the apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits around a vehicle tire of a stopped vehicle.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing the apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits.
 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising raising the apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits into a closed position after removing the apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits.
 4. A method for preventing vehicle theft comprising: extending an apparatus for preventing vehicle theft by utilizing a deploying mechanism prior to positioning the apparatus for preventing vehicle theft, placing the apparatus for preventing vehicle theft around a vehicle tire of a stopped vehicle.
 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising removing the apparatus for preventing vehicle theft.
 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising: raising the apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits into a closed position after removing the apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits.
 7. A method for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits and vehicle theft comprising: extending an apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits and vehicle theft by the deploying mechanism prior to positioning said apparatus; placing the apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits and vehicle theft around the vehicle tire of a stopped vehicle; locking the apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits and vehicle theft by the locking mechanism in position around the vehicle tire.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising removing said apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits and vehicle theft.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: raising the apparatus for preventing high speed vehicle pursuits and vehicle theft into a closed position after removing said apparatus. 